Keswick’s Coffee Lounge has undergone a massive wardrobe change this year! It’s out with the old, and in with the new, as we say goodbye to the Coffee Lounge, and hello to Henry’s Lakeland Diner!
Named after the owner’s beloved father, I was lucky enough to visit Henry’s over the weekend, and was immediately hit with the classic retro-diner vibes.
Think Grease, Twin Peaks, or, for those of you who are fans of Riverdale, Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe, with a cool-blue interior that offers a modern twist on the classic American diner.
Another small detail that caught my eye (rather, my ear) was the incredible playlist.
A mix of 60s-80s classics, I can definitely imagine coming here late in the afternoon, and staying well into the evening - the selection of cocktails certainly makes this an exciting possibility!
Hits such as ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’ by Tears for Fears, and Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ were a welcome accompaniment as we waited a short 20mins for our food while sipping on our drinks!
Those of us that ordered soft drinks marvelled at the pineapple-textured glasses, while we all wow-ed at the size of the milkshakes, made right in front of us as we ordered, complete with the novelty swirled-cream topping.
I tried the chocolate milkshake, and as someone who hates chocolate flavoured anything, I was pleasantly surprised!
The flavour wasn’t too overpowering, and I don’t think you would have been subject to the sickly feeling you may experience after drinking a milkshake from basically anywhere else.
We watched as other guests had their food delivered - American-style sandwiches in red baskets with skinny fries - until it was our turn.
Our burgers came on GOLDBEAR UK wooden boards, with a small fryer-style basket for our fries and a small (but ample) portion of coleslaw.
Initially, I thought that the portion size looked quite small, but as we finished our meal we all made similar remarks that we felt satisfied, not ‘stuffed’ or as if we had overeaten - a sort of perfect medium.
We were slightly confused that the halloumi burger didn’t have a meat patty, but upon reading the menu again this was clear, and the size of the patty in my classic burger meant there was more than enough to cut off half and share.
One of the most noticeable things about the food at Henry’s is that it feels homemade. You know that all the food is fresh, and prepared in-house.
This perfectly balances the reputation that American food perhaps has for being artificial or ‘fake’, and brings together British and American food culture in holy matrimony. It might sound extreme, but it’s true.
They had fries that stayed hot while you ate your burger, incredible customer service, friendly staff and strong Wi-Fi that helps locals and tourists stay connected in the signal-barren lakes.
It really is the little things that set Henry’s apart from other food vendors in Keswick.
The location may seem unfortunate at first: skipping the Main Street and facing the Wetherspoons car-park.
However, locals that know where to park in Keswick, tourists on their way to the B&Bs on Blencathra Street, and people coming out of Wetherspoons will all definitely be intrigued as they pass the diner.
I strongly encourage you all to give it a try, and with meals all teetering around the £10 mark, it’s too good a deal to miss.
While some Keswickians may say that refurbishing the Coffee Lounge we knew and loved was a gamble, I’d say it’s paid off.
Keswick has coffee shops and nearly every type of restaurant you could think of - the diner is a welcome addition to the local area, and I can’t wait for our next visit!